CHANDIGARH: The Akali Dal Mann has called for a Sikh state within the Indian constitution. The Badal group however favored implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, while the militants stuck to their demand for an independent Khalistan at political conferences organized at Anandpur on the occasion of Holla Mohala on March 9.

About two hundred thousand Sikhs participated in the 3 day celebrations dominated by a mood of militancy.

Addressing the congregation Simranjit Singh demanded a Sikh state to protect the religion and to restore the dignity of the Sikhs. He repeatedly referred to Sant Jarnail Singh who he said had launched a struggle to restore Sikh honor and identity.

Mann regretted the failure of the Govt to initiate a dialogue on his demands within constitutional limits. At the same time he said his party would continue to struggle to achieve the goals set by the panth. In an apparent bid to appease militants, Mann termed them as the real Sikhs and urged the people’s support to them. Sant Bhindranwale was the greatest Sikh leader of the century, he said.

Mann often used the vocabulary of the Sant. He also justified the killing of Indira Gandhi and Gen Vaidya and made the release of Bhai Harjinder S. Jinda and Sukdev S. Sukha a pre-condition for entering into a dialogue with the government.

Referring to his meeting with VP Singh, Mann said he had demanded the release of the two facing death sentence in the Vaidya case. Another condition was the dismantling of the police set up in Punjab.

He spoke at length on the Kirpan issue drawing criticism from the Badal group.

He told the people to prepare lists of the officers committing atrocities on the Sikhs and hand them over to the militants or leaders of his party. He said those trying to flee the country too would be brought to justice.

Mann criticized the Badal group of talking about nonissues like better prices for farmers. Once the Sikh state was set up such issues would automatically be resolved he said. The main issue to him was restoration of Sikh dignity. No compromise at the cost of the honor and dignity of Sikhs would be made he stressed. He also attacked Badal for joining hands with the BJP.

Addressing a largely attended conference Parkash Singh Badal demanded the implementation of Anandpur Sahib Resolution of 1978. He also demanded general amnesty to Sikh youth in jails.

Badal lashed out at Mann for “running away from his responsibilities” after the confidence reposed in him by the people in the massive mandate he got in the Lok Sabha elections. He said he was willing to accept Mann’s leadership provided he was able to solve the Punjab problem.

SGPC president G.S. Tohra went a step ahead saying the constitution did not matter as far as Sikh demands were concerned. He saw no reason why the constitution could not be amended to have the Anandpur Sahib Resolution accepted. He said if the center wanted the youth to get over the demand for Khalistan, this was the only way out. He said the present situation would continue till such time.

Tohra condemned the killings both by the state and the militants. He called upon various Akali factions to unite but said the Mann group should not treat this call as a sign of weakness.

The AISSF (Manjit) decided to send a delegation to Kashmir to coordinate efforts with the militants there. AISSF also demanded immediate SGPC elections and made it clear that it would participate in these. Through another resolution it condemned the VP Singh Govt of continuing with the Gandhi policies.

The BTF and KCF expressed full faith in the leadership of Baba Thakur Singh of the Damdami Taksa and Manjit Singh. The two outfits said they were not in any way associated with those indulging in extortions and blackmail. They announced rewards for information on those indulging in such anti Sikh activities.

Manjit Singh was in Chowk Mehta and could not address the congregation.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 16, 1990